Image print system for printing a picture from an additional information affixed image file

ABSTRACT

An image print system for printing a picture from an image file having additional information, which enables high-quality image printing to be achieved using various types of image data and their additional information. Image data obtained by taking subjects are sent, together with their additional information, to an image reproduction system in a photographic laboratory. The image reproduction system carries out processing of the image data in accordance with the additional information, and produces its resultant images in the form of image prints. The additional information includes post-processing information for temporally or spatially correlating a series of images to combine them or to select some of them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an image print system forprinting still pictures from an image file having additionalinformation, which file contains image data representing the stillimages and additional information representing characteristics of theimage data.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] An electronic digital still camera (DS camera), for example,records on a recording medium like an IC (integrated circuit) memorycard not only images in the form of digital data, but also additionalinformation representing characteristics of photographed images such asexposure, color filter information about the image pickup device. Forexample, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 75922/1993 assignedto the same assignee as that of the present application discloses aphotosensitive film with an additional information recording area, whichhas magnetic strips formed on a silver-halide photosensitive film forrecording the additional information as in an advanced photograph system(APS). Besides, an enhanced APS is proposed which comprises a filmcartridge including an IC memory in which the additional information isto be recorded.

[0005] In addition, a system is also proposed which implements variousimage operations like image composition using such additionalinformation recorded on the image file. For example, Japanese patentapplication No. 35781/1996 filed in the name of the same assignee asthat of the present application discloses an image composite apparatusfor combining desired images into a template image using the additionalinformation. Since the DS (digital still)camera stores the image in thedigital form, the usercan achieve the image operation or processingbyhimself or herself with the DS camera itself or a personal computer.To obtain higher resolution, beautiful finish color pictures such asthose printedon postal cards, it is preferable to request to aspecialistlike a photo laboratory. For example, Japanese patent application No.35780/1996 filed in the name of the same assignee as that of the presentapplication discloses an image filing system which converts, in alaboratory of specialists, images into digital image data, and storesthem on an image data recording medium like an magneto-optical disk.

[0006] In the state of the art, solid-state image pickup devices like aCCD (charge-coupled device) employed in the DS cameras, for example,have a rather narrow dynamic range. The DS cameras employing a memorycard as a recording medium of the image data, however, have an advantageof being able to rewrite image data on the memory card many times.Besides, diversification of the image recording system and recordingmedia makes it possible to use various types of recording media fromsilver-halide photosensitive film to magnetic recording media andoptical recording media. In addition, the environment for processing theimage data and additional information is also growing diversified suchthat users can process the image data or add the additional informationusing personal computers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In view of the state of the art described above, an object of thepresent invention is to provide an image print system capable ofachieving high quality image printing from an image file havingadditional information with various types of image data and theiradditional information utilized.

[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image print system for printing a picture from an image filehaving additional information, wherein the image print system receivesimage data obtained by taking a subject, and additional informationassociated with the image data; carries out processing of the image datain accordance with the additional information; and produces in the formof a visible image an image represented by the image data which haveundergone the processing.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image print system for printing a picture from an image filehaving additional information, comprising: an input device for receivingimage data obtained by taking a subject, and additional informationassociated with the image data; an image processor connected to theinput device for carrying out processing of the image data in accordancewith the additional information; and an output device for producing inthe form of a visible image an image represented by the image data whichhave undergone the processing.

[0010] Here, the additional information may include correlationinformation for temporally or spatially correlating image data of aplurality of images, and the image processor may carry out at least oneof selecting and combining of image data of the plurality of imagesdesignated by the correlation information.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of printing a picture from an image file havingadditional information, comprising the steps of: capturing an image of asubject to generate image data representing the image of the subject;generating additional information associated with the image data;transferring the image data together with the additional information toan image reproduction system; processing by the image reproductionsystem the image data in accordance with the additional informationtransferred; and producing in the form of a visible image an imagerepresented by the image data which have been processed by the imagereproduction system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The objects and features of the present invention will becomemore apparent from consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing anembodiment of an image reproduction system, intended for laboratory use,of an image print system for producing pictures from an image filehaving additional information in accordance with the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing anembodiment including a user side personal computer of an image printsystem in accordance with the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a structure of an image file inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 4 shows how FIGS. 4A and 4B are combined;

[0017]FIGS. 4A and 4B show, when combined as shown in FIG. 4, in theform of a table an example of additional information in the embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 5 is useful for understanding composition of multiple imagesin the embodiment;

[0019]FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are graphs useful for understanding examples of awide dynamic range image composition in the embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 9 is a graph useful for understanding a composition of imagesphotographed with altering exposure in the embodiment;

[0021]FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a panoramic composition in theembodiment; and

[0022]FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a stroboscopic actioncomposition in the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an image reproductionsystem 10 in accordance with the present invention is intended for thephotograph laboratory use of an image print system for printing picturesfrom an image file having additional information. The system 10 isadapted to read image data and additional information from one of imagerecording media 12, reproduce an image represented by the image data inaccordance with the additional information, and print the reproducedimage on recording paper in the form of a photographic print 14. It ispreferable that the image reproduction system 10 be installed in alaboratory of commercial specialists. The system 10 in the embodimentcomprises a recording medium reader 16 for reading the image data andadditional information; an image processor 18 for processing the imagedata in accordance with the additional information thus read in; and adigital photographic printer 20 that is adapted to reproduce an imagerepresented by the image data processed, and print it in the form of aphotographic print 14 as a visible image.

[0024] Various types of image recording media are applicable as theimage recording media 12 of the image reproduction system 10. Forexample, from a DS camera (electronic digital still camera) 22 in FIG.2, image recording media are provided in the form of an IC (integratedcircuit) memory card 24. The IC memory card 24 has a plurality of memoryareas 26, each including a tag area 28 and image data area 30 as shownin FIG. 3. The tag area or field 28 stores the additional information aswill be described later, and the image data area or field 30 stores theimage data for each picture. The image data can be either compressed ornot. In the specification, data or signals are designated with thereference numerals which are directed to fields or connections whichcontain or convey the data or signals.

[0025] Returning now to FIG. 2, the image recording media 12 include anAPS film 32 with the additional information, which is applicable to theforegoing APS system. As is well-known, the APS film 32 contains theimages shot by an APS camera 34, and the additional information such asexposure data, which is associated with the images and recorded on themagnetic stripes, not shown, formed on the film. The APS film 32 isdeveloped in a laboratory, held in a cartridge 32 and is handed to itsuser. The APS film 32 is set in the recording medium reader 16 of theimage reproduction system 10.

[0026] The APS film 32 can be either a film type with the magneticstripes as described above or an enhanced APS type in which an IC memoryarea for recording the additional information is provided in the filmcartridge. The present specification refers to either of them as anadditional information affixed photographic film, or simply as an APSfilm.

[0027] The present image reproduction system 10 can also handle anegative or positive film 38 provided by a conventional silver-halidephotosensitive film camera 36. A film 38 produced by the film camera 36is developed in the laboratory, and handed to a user. Its visible imagesare read in and converted into digital data through a user's processingsystem such as a personal computer system 40, and the digital data arerecorded with the additional information in a large-capacity recordingmedium 42 like a magnetic recording medium in the format of an imagefile 26.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the personal computer system 40 generallycomprises, a personal computer 48, a film scanner 44 for reading thevisible images carried on the film 38; and a recording mediumreader/writer 46 for reading the image data and additional informationrecorded on the image recording media 12 and for writing on them theimage data and additional information generated by the personal computersystem 40. The film scanner 44 and recording medium reader/writer 46 arecontrolled by the personal computer 48. The personal computer 48, inresponse to the operation of the user, stores the digital image data inthe IC memory card 24 or large-capacity recording medium 42, forms theadditional information, and stores it in the IC memory card 24,large-capacity recording medium 42 or the magnetic recording area, notshown, on the APS film 32.

[0029] In the instant embodiment, a camera such as the DS camera 22 orAPS camera 34 takes a plurality of images which may correlate in time orspace. The image file holds as the additional information 28 theinformation instructing the way to handle these images. For example, theimage data undergo image processing like composition based on theadditional information when reproducing or printing a picture from theimage file. The term “still image” used in the specification refers to aplurality of images having temporal correlation as well as individualimages. The term “image file” refers to not only a file of the digitaldata, but also files of various forms such as the film 38 including theimage data and additional information 28 in the analog form as can beseen from the foregoing description.

[0030] Although the input is provided to the image reproduction system10 through the image recording media 12 in the present embodiment, itcan be achieved without using such individual media. For example, theinvention can be effectively applied to a system which is adapted toreceives the image data and additional information over atelecommunications channel.

[0031] The additional information recorded in the tag area 28 includesthe information as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, which can be generallyreferred to as information representing image characteristics.Specifically, the tag area or field 28 includes information 50 effectivein improving picture quality, information 52 effective in correctingpicture quality, information 54 for improving picture quality inpost-processing and information 56 effective in setting up a printer.Among these, the present invention particularly relates to thepost-processing, that is, the information 54 for improving picturequality in post-processing in the image reproduction system 10 in thelaboratory. The latter information 54 falls roughly into information forperforming wide dynamic range (DR) processing; information for the imagereproduction system 10 to process the image data as they are output fromthe image pickup device; and information for the image reproductionsystem 10 to select a plurality of images taken with altering theexposure conditions.

[0032] According to the present embodiment, none of users of thecameras, even of the DS camera 22, generally, carry out the imageprocessing. Specifically, although a user can perform the normal signalprocessing such as gray level correction with the DS camera 22, theimage processing associated with the information 54 for improvingpicture quality in post-processing is usually carried out in the imagereproduction system 10 in the laboratory. For this purpose, the presentinvention utilizes the additional information 28 which can be generatedby the DS camera 22 or APS camera 34, or produced or handled by the userwith the personal computer system 40. The information is provided forthe laboratory along with the image data in the form of the imagerecording media 12 to be input to the image reproduction system 10.

[0033] In the present embodiment, the information for the wide dynamicrange processing consists of the additional information which includesinformation indicating that two pictures are taken by the DS camera 22for the same scene at different sensitivities, and frame information foridentifying the two pictures. The wide dynamic range processing mergeslow-sensitivity and high-sensitivity images into a single image. Two ormore images may be combined into one or more images as well. Suchadditional information is generated by the DS camera 22, and recorded inthe tag area 28 of the IC memory card 24 such that it corresponds to theimage. The APS camera 34 also generates the additional information, andrecords it on the APS film 32. Alternatively, the personal computer 48can generate the additional information by reading the IC memory card 24or APS film 32 set on the recording medium reader/writer 46, and byrecording the additional data on the IC memory card 24 or APS film 32 insuch a manner that it corresponds to the image data. It may also bestored in the large-capacity recording medium 42. In particular, twoimages taken by the photosensitive film camera 36 are read by the filmscanner 44, converted into image data by the personal computer 48, andstored in the large-capacity recording medium 42 along with theadditional information which indicates that the two images are taken atdifferent sensitivities, and which includes their image frameinformation.

[0034] The image recording media 12 thus holding the additionalinformation 28 is brought into a laboratory, and is set on the recordingmedium reader 16 in the image reproduction system 10 so that the imagereproduction system 10 reads out the image data from the image data area30 and the additional information from the tag area 28. The imageprocessor 18 identifies the couple of associated images from theadditional information 28, and combines them to a single image. FIG. 5schematically illustrates the general process for combining N imagesinto a single image 58, where N is a natural number greater than one.The image 58 is printed out in the form of photographic print 14 throughthe digital photographic printer 20. Here, a laboratory refers to aninstitute such as a photo-developing-printing shop for commercialspecialists of photographic or image processing.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 6, when the image pickup device of the DS camera22 is set at the low sensitivity, its luminance level is plotted as thecurve 100, whereas when it is set at the high sensitivity, the luminancelevel is plotted as the curve 102. Receiving the image data of theframes designated by the additional information 28, the image processor18 multiplies or compresses the high sensitivity distribution curve 102,and combines it with the low sensitivity distribution curve 100, therebyproducing the image with a composite curve 104 as shown in FIG. 7. Theimage processor 18 compresses the dynamic range of the image to generatethe single image 58 with a luminance distribution 106 as shown in FIG.8. The image 58 is output from the digital photographic printer 20 asthe print 14.

[0036] The user can have the personal computer system 40 read out thetwo wide-dynamic range images, and have a display unit, not shown,display them to make a simulation of their composition. In this case,the composite condition of the images, that is, the additionalinformation of the two original images is recorded on the imagerecording media 12 along with their image data, and is provided to thepersonal computer system 40. Using the high resolution of the personalcomputer system 40 makes it possible to provide a high-qualityphotographic print 14.

[0037] With the image reproduction system 10, one can select, by usingthe additional information 28, any of the plurality of image frames#1-#N, FIG. 5, taken with altering the exposure conditions. For example,a plurality of under-exposure and over-exposure images around a correctexposure are taken by a single shutter release of an electronic stillcamera, APS camera 34 or photosensitive film camera 36, which has afunction of sequential shooting. The exposure of cameras varies owing tothe accuracy of their metering systems, to the control accuracy of theirshutters and irises, or to forward-light, back-light and high or lowcontrast scenes. It is possible for an operator to select an optimumframe at the printing, or for a printer with a high accuracy automaticsetup function to automatically select the optimum one. Alternatively,the operator selects the optimum frame by checking on the personalcomputer.

[0038] Thus, the additional information indicating that a series ofimages is taken by altering the exposure in a certain range is acquired,and stored in association with the image data. In the image reproductionsystem 10, the image processor 18 processes such image data associatedwith the additional information, and the resultant picture is outputfrom the printer 20.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, for example, one image close to the median isselected from among the series of images #1-#N taken by altering theexposure condition within the certain range. The image processor 18makes a line graph, or histogram, representing accumulations of thesorted luminance levels appearing on the series of images #1-#N, whichis shown in FIG. 9. An image under a correct exposure condition has acurve close to the curve 110. However, the curve 112 is obtained in theunder-exposure condition, and the curve 114 is obtained in theover-exposure condition. These image data are passed through theauto-setup function of the image processor 18 so that an appropriategray level correction value is derived. Under the appropriate exposure,a few levels in the darkest or brightest section are within about 5% ofthe sum total. The image processor 18 selects one of the series of theimages #1-#N, which has a value close to the appropriate gray levelcorrection value, carries out its appropriate correction, and prints itout from the printer 20. Since the DS camera 22 usually has a narrowdynamic range, a high quality photographic print 14 can be obtained bycarrying out the foregoing selection or composition of the images notwith the DS camera 22 but with the image reproduction system 10 in thelaboratory.

[0040] A panoramic composite photograph can also be produced by theimage reproduction system 10 using the additional information 28. Aplurality of photographs #1-#N are taken by the camera 22, for example,with rotating it so that respective frames panoramically overlap alittle. The camera 22 records, as the additional information 28, anindication that the photographs are panoramically taken, and theinformation designating associated frames and their sequence. The imagereproduction system 10 arranges the images in the order of shooting inaccordance with the additional information 28 as shown in FIG. 10,carries out correlation operation between the overlapped portions, andcombines them so that the correlation coefficients become maximum,thereby producing a panoramic photograph 60, in which case, margins ofthe photograph 60 may be cut out.

[0041] The DS camera 22 with a panoramic function can include in itscontrol circuit a panoramic control function that detects an overlappedportion between the object images of the present and preceding scenesusing the image data functioning as a finder in the image pickup device,and releases the shutter of the camera 22 when the ratio of theoverlapped portion to the entire area becomes a particular value.

[0042] The camera 22 with a sequential shooting function, for example,can also achieve stroboscopic action composition processing. The seriesof the images #1-#N so far relates to a spatial composition of theimages. In contrast with this, the stroboscopic action compositionrelates to a temporal composition of the images #1-#N.

[0043] For example, the motion of a golf swing or the like is shotsequentially in a single shutter release. In this case, the camera 22records, as the additional information 28, designation information foridentifying each one of a series of the images #1-#N from the beginningto the end of the shooting, and designation information indicative oftheir sequence and the fact that they are associated with thestroboscopic action composition. The image reproduction system 10arranges the series of the images #1-#N in the order of shooting inaccordance with the additional information 28, and prints them out inthe form of a single continuous photograph 62 as shown in FIG. 11.Alternatively, they may undergo multiple print as shown in FIG. 5, thatis, printed in the form of the composite photograph 58. In this case,the image processor 18 calculates the differences between the adjacentimage data of the series of images #1-#N, and superimposes them into oneimage by summing up the absolute values of the differences. Thesuperimposed image 58 can include invariant scene like a background bymerging a particular image, the image data of the final frame #N, forexample, in its entirety.

[0044] The output image, such asa image 14, may be directly supplied tothe printer 20 as in the present embodiment. In addition, oralternatively to this, an output image can be displayed on the screen ofan image monitor like a CRT, not shown, of the image processor 18.Instead of this, before printing in the image reproduction system 10,the user can confirm the composite result on the monitor screen of thepersonal computer system 40 by generating it through the imageprocessing in the system in accordance with the additional information28. In this case, it is possible for the additional information 28 toinclude, if any additional processing is required of the personalcomputer system 40, data such as conditions for specifying theadditional processing.

[0045] It is important to note that even in the case where the imagedata are thus processed by the personal computer system 40, the imagedata are transferred to the image reproduction system 10 in the form asthey are taken by the camera 22 in the present embodiment. Theadditional information includes various information about processingsand image pickup schemes so that the image reproduction system 10 cancarry out the image composition. This enables the image reproductionsystem 10 to produce a high-quality print 14 with maintaining theresolution at the time the images are taken. Although it is verydifficult for the personal computer system 40 to produce ahigh-resolution image through composition, the instant embodiment canreproduce the print 14 with a high resolution matching that at the imageshooting because the dedicated image reproduction system 10 processesthe images on the basis of the additional information. In other words,the image data output from the image pickup device can undergo the imageprocessing by the image reproduction system 10 just as they are outputtherefrom.

[0046] Using the series of the images #1-#N photographed at nearly thesame time in connection with their additional information 28 enables theimage reproduction system 10 to select a desired image to be printedout. For example, it serves to select a most photogenic portrait withoutclosing eyes or a red eye from among the series of the images #1-#N. Ina precious photographic chance which would never come again, severalframes are shot with the same subject. Alternatively, in a camera withthe function to shoot a plurality of images of the same subject in asingle shutter release, the additional information 28 indicating thatthe image data are associated with the same subject is recorded inconnection with the image data. The image reproduction system 10reproduces the images on the monitor screen so that the optimum image isselected and printed. Instead, while the monitor of the personalcomputer system 40 reproduces the series of the images #1-#N, theoptimum image can be selected and the additional information indicativeof that image is recorded. Using its automatic decision function, theimage processor 18 can achieve selection of the optimum image byremoving such as red eye images or by correcting such portions.

[0047] In summary, the DS camera 22 is provided with a mode selectionswitch, not shown, for selecting one of the processing modes such aswide dynamic range processing, panoramic image composition processingand stroboscopic action processing, which are described above. Anoperator takes a photograph after selecting a desired processing modewith the switch. Depressing the shutter release button of the camera 22causes a plurality of images to be sequentially taken in response to theselected mode. At the same time, the selected mode is recorded in theimage file 26 as the additional information 28 indicative of the way theimages are to be processed or combined.

[0048] The image recording media 12 such as the IC memory 24 like a PCcard, on which the image file 26 are thus recorded, are accepted at aspecialty store and is sent to a laboratory so that the imagereproduction system 10 therein makes a decision of the images associatedwith each other in accordance with the instruction of the additionalinformation 28, and processes and combines them. After combining theminto a single image, the digital photographic printer 20 prints it. Theprint 14 is handed to the customer at the store.

[0049] Although the print 14 is produced directly from the imagerecording media 12 in the foregoing example, the system may be adaptedto allow the personal computer system 40 to read out the image data 30and additional information 28, to process and compose them in accordancewith the instructions of the additional information 28, and to have thecomposite result displayed 6n the image monitor confirmed as to whetherit satisfies desired conditions. In addition, the system may also beadapted to correct the additional information 28 or to attach newadditional information, such as instructions about a new processing ordesignation of a new printing condition. In any case, it is only theadditional information 28 that is subjected to the correction oraddition before being sent to the image reproduction system 10. Even ifthe image data are processed by the personal computer system 40 for thepurpose of confirmation, the original image data 30 as they arephotographed by the camera 22 are sent to the image reproduction system10.

[0050] That is the case with the APS camera 34. More specifically, theAPS camera 34 is also provided with a mode selection switch, not shown,for selecting one of the processing modes such as the wide dynamic rangeprocessing, panoramic image composition processing and stroboscopicaction processing, which are described above. An operator manipulatesthe mode selector switch to select a desired processing mode, and thentakes a subject. Depressing the shutter release button of the camera 34causes a plurality of frames of image to be sequentially taken in theselected mode. At the same time, data representing the selected mode ismagnetically recorded on the magnetic recording stripes, specifically,on the index (IX) information recording area, not shown, of the APS film32 as the additional information 28 that indicates the way the imagesare to be processed or combined. The additional information 28 togetherwith the image on the APS film 32 constitutes the image file 26. In anapplication of the APS camera 34 which uses a film cartridge with the ICmemory, i.e. the enhanced APS camera, the additional information 28 isstored in the IC memory. The processing following this may be the sameas in the case of the DS camera 22.

[0051] The visible image recorded on the APS film 32 can be read intothe personal computer system 40 with the recording medium reader/writer46 such as an APS film scanner, and be handled as digital data. Theprocessing following this may be the same as in the case of the DScamera 22. To the image reproduction system 10, transferred is not thedigital image data thus processed by the personal computer, but the APSfilm 32.

[0052] The visible image 38 already produced in the form of a negativefilm or a print can be read into the personal computer system 40 usingthe film scanner 44, and be handled as digital data. More specifically,the personal computer system 40 processes and combines them, and afterthe operator confirms them on the monitor screen, the additionalinformation 28 is generated. The additional information 28 is recordedin the large-capacity recording medium 42 like a floppy disk, and issent to the image reproduction system 10 together with the film 38. Theprocessing following this may be the same as in the case of the DScamera 22.

[0053] According to the present invention, the image data output fromthe image pickup device can be provided to the image reproduction systemas they are taken, and undergo the image processing in accordance withthe additional information. The present invention therefore provides animage print system which can produce a high-quality photograph printfrom an image file having additional information, using various types ofthe image data and the additional information associated therewith.

[0054] The entire disclosures of Japanese patent applications Nos.98392/1997 and 83792/1997 filed on Apr. 1 and 2, 1997, respectively,including the specifications, claims, accompanying drawings andabstracts of the disclosure are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

[0055] While the present invention has been described with reference tothe particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted bythose embodiments. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the artcan change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scopeand spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image print system for printing a picture froman image file having additional information, wherein said image printsystem receives image data obtained by taking a subject, and additionalinformation associated with the image data; carries out processing ofthe image data in accordance with the additional information; andproduces in a form of a visible image an image represented by the imagedata which have undergone the processing.
 2. An image print system forprinting a picture from an image file having additional information,said image print system comprising: an input device for receiving imagedata obtained by taking a subject, and additional information associatedwith the image data; an image processor connected to said input devicefor carrying out processing of the image data in accordance with theadditional information; and an output device for producing in a form ofa visible image an image represented by the image data which haveundergone the processing.
 3. The system in accordance with claim 2,wherein the additional information includes correlation information fortemporally or spatially correlating image data of a plurality of images,said image processor carrying out at least one of selecting andcombining of image data of the plurality of images designated by thecorrelation information.
 4. A method of printing a picture from an imagefile having additional information, said method comprising the steps of:capturing an image of a subject to generate image data representing theimage of the subject; generating additional information associated withthe image data; transferring the image data together with the additionalinformation to an image reproduction system; processing by the imagereproduction system the image data in accordance with the additionalinformation transferred; and producing in a form of a visible image animage represented by the image data which have been processed by theimage reproduction system.